Pelican Ballpark four-peats; Seahawks share team logo

Stadium Journey released its ranking of the ballparks in the Carolina League on Tuesday, and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Ballpark, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, ranked first out of the eight teams in the league.

Since the publication began ranking the ballparks in the league in 2011, the Pelicans have taken the top spot each year.

Once a year Stadium Journey ranks each ballpark within its own league. They also rank the top ballpark experiences within Minor League Baseball each fall and the Top 100 stadium experiences in all of sports each winter. The rankings are based on the ratings of their official correspondents, who make a yearly visit to each ballpark. In the event of a tie, reviews of users and members serves as the primary tiebreaker.

The review of the TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark opens with, “the Pelicans have done an amazing job of catering to both local die-hards and casual tourists. With the massive variety of food options and many entertainment options, TicketReturn.com Field is easily a premier minor league venue.”

The review from the official correspondent ranks the ballpark experience in seven categories: Food & Beverage, Atmosphere, Neighborhood, Fans, Access, Return on Investment, and Extras. The Pelicans received four or five stars in every category, with five stars being the highest mark possible. The team earned five stars for Food & Beverage, Neighborhood, Access, and Extras.

The review concludes with, “as anyone who has been there can tell you, Myrtle Beach is a great spot for a vacation, and adding a night out at the ballpark is a no-brainer.”

In addition to being the top-ranked ballpark experience in the Carolina League the last four years, the Pelicans have ranked third in all of Minor League Baseball in each of the last three seasons. The ranking for the 2014 season will be published this October.

As for the Top 100 list for stadium experiences in all of sports, the Pelicans opened at the number 31 spot in 2011 but pulled into the top 25 for 2012 and 2013. The team recorded its highest ranking in 2012 (#19). The Top 100 list for 2014 will be published in January.

The Pelicans return to TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in 2015 as they look to defend their Southern Division Championship Title. 2015 marks 17th season for the franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

Pelicans, Seahawks share logos

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, announced on Tuesday that the Myrtle Beach High School Baseball Team will adopt the Pelicans “MB” cap logo. The logo will be updated to match the Seahawks’ color scheme and will be featured on the team’s game caps.

“We’re very excited to work with Tim Christy and the Myrtle Beach Seahawks,” stated Pelicans Vice President and General Manager Andy Milovich. “We view this partnership as an extension of our Play it Forward Community Initiative and an opportunity to invest in the game of baseball. Tim has been very supportive of the Pelicans since I arrived. He’s assisted the Pelicans in securing bullpen catchers, throwing batting practice and directing players and coaches on local fishing holes, while furnishing poles and tackle. He’s a real community asset and we’re thrilled to work with him on an endeavor that grows both of our brands.”

The idea of incorporating the Pelicans mark into the Seahawks’ uniforms was presented to Milovich by Seahawks Head Coach Tim Christy.

“The Pelicans are a huge part of the baseball culture at the beach,” stated Christy. “We are very excited to be able to adopt a small part of who they are. They are a class organization from top to bottom.”